Fifty Plus (50+) - Are you superstitious?

About six weeks ago, I had a minor crash on my mtb, resulting in a damaged brake lever. Only the very end of it broke off so I was able to continue the ride and when I got home found a good deal on some "upgraded" levers and ordered them. I continued to ride with the damaged one no problem. I suppose there is some hazard from the broken off lever but I wear full finger gloves and they sit pretty far in on the bars so I can't see how I could manage to snag any other body parts on them. I have had the new ones for about four weeks now and have yet to put them on for fear that as soon as I do, I crash and break the new one! Is it bad juju to replace banged up but serviceable mtb parts?

If it works and doesna't cause you a problem- then keep it. Don't know if its Murphy's or Sod's law but change those levers and you will be buying a new helmet, and Bars, and another set of levers.

I have had the new ones for about four weeks now and have yet to put them on for fear that as soon as I do, I crash and break the new one! Is it bad juju to replace banged up but serviceable mtb parts?

Well, you'll never know until you replace them. I'd replace them immediately. There's no other way to resolve the question.

The only reason to keep the old ones are plain old penny pinching. No juju or lack of juju.

I'm a penny pincher. I'd want to get the full value of the money I've spent. You know, never replace a tire unless the threads are exposed. I might wait till another part needs to be replaced, a cable or something. That's just more efficient.

I'm a baseball fan...superstitions are part of the game. :twitchy: I guess that means yes...new bikes always get a scratch and never step on the foul line when leaving the field...just sayin'. ;):lol:

Call me superstitious, but I never chew more than three wads of tobacco per century ride.

Am I superstitious? No! And I'll never become superstitious either...knock on wood.

It's ok to replace the levers with the new ones as long as the proper precaution are observed.

1. The work should be performed after sunset.
2. The allen wrench used to remove the old livers should be disposed of along with the levers.
3. New tools should be used for the new levers and new inner cables should be installed.
4. Just before the new levers are installed, they should be walked around the bike in a circle, the right lever in a right hand direction, and the left lever in a left hand direction.
5. Lastly, to show the machinery that you are in charge and have no fear of the new parts, a full ride should be undertaken as soon as possible without any forn of check ride or test. It is not good to let the machines smell fear.















But first, the package with the new levers should be opened out of sight of the bicycle and they should not be allowed to reside in its presence untill the very moment of installation. Failure to do this is very bad juju indeed.

It's ok to replace the levers with the new ones as long as the proper precaution are observed.

1. The work should be performed after sunset.
2. The allen wrench used to remove the old livers should be disposed of along with the levers.
3. New tools should be used for the new levers and new inner cables should be installed.
4. Just before the new levers are installed, they should be walked around the bike in a circle, the right lever in a right hand direction, and the left lever in a left hand direction.
5. Lastly, to show the machinery that you are in charge and have no fear of the new parts, a full ride should be undertaken as soon as possible without any forn of check ride or test. It is not good to let the machines smell fear.




But first, the package with the new levers should be opened out of sight of the bicycle and they should not be allowed to reside in its presence untill the very moment of installation. Failure to do this is very bad juju indeed.



You forgot the naked dance in the garage. :roflmao2:

In spite of the myth, the naked garage dance has nothing to do with brake levers...................................................

i'm not very superstitious...however slightly OCD...
could they be considered one in the same?:rolleyes:

2. The allen wrench used to remove the old livers should be disposed of


As medical sciences advances yet again.

In spite of the myth, the naked garage dance has nothing to do with brake levers...................................................


True, they should only be done for bottom brackets and spoke nipples.

Maybe - I have never run over a black cat, avoid broken mirrors and don't ride under ladders. Does all that count?

Just stay off the trails and in bed so you don't get hurt!

True, they should only be done for bottom brackets and spoke nipples.

Got it, naked = bottom and/or nipples.

I'm leaving the old levers on until they're good and thrashed.

In spite of the myth, the naked garage dance has nothing to do with brake levers...................................................

Boy do I feel silly...I hope the neighbors weren't watching. :eek: http://crapmods.com/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_redface.gif

Is it bad juju to replace banged up but serviceable mtb parts?

I vote to replace them. You just might tick the bike off by leaving the banged up part on it:)

This reminds me of the advice I got when I skinned the bar wrap recently. The fellows I ride with said to wrap it with black electrical tape and it would be good as new:notamused: I took the baby to the LBS and got it some new wrap....none of that crappy tape for it.

If it were a road bike, I'd say replace it, but since it's a mountain bike, just ride it like it is. My mountain bike has been crashed, bashed and bounced off big rocks, so it has that authentic "yeah, I ride this thing!" look.

I do wash it occasionally, lube it, etc. but don't worry at all about how it looks. If it still works, use it!

Rick / OCRR

This reminds me of the advice I got when I skinned the bar wrap recently. The fellows I ride with said to wrap it with black electrical tape and it would be good as new:notamused: I took the baby to the LBS and got it some new wrap....none of that crappy tape for it.

LOL.... I bet they repair their broken lamps and furniture in the same manner. :lol:

Boy do I feel silly...I hope the neighbors weren't watching. :eek: http://crapmods.com/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_redface.gif

For anything dealing with brakes, tires, wheels, any rubber part or surface that comes in contact with a rubber part or controls a rubber part the beheading of a rubber chicken should be performed on your handlebars before installation to appease the spirits of vulcanization.

Its bad luck to be superstitious.

Im only superstitious about one thing in cycling. Just read the bottom of my signature.

Call me superstitious, but I never chew more than three wads of tobacco per century ride.

I wouldn't want to be riding behind you! :giver:

LOL.... I bet they repair their broken lamps and furniture in the same manner. :lol:

SO!:innocent:

I vote to replace them. You just might tick the bike off by leaving the banged up part on it:)

This reminds me of the advice I got when I skinned the bar wrap recently. The fellows I ride with said to wrap it with black electrical tape and it would be good as new:notamused: I took the baby to the LBS and got it some new wrap....none of that crappy tape for it.

Just glad you did not take the fellows advice- Everyone knows that gaffer tape is the only kind to use on a bike.

You have found an alternative use for the repair agent for when it moves

If it doesn't move and it should---Use WD 40

If it moves and it shouldn't---Use Gaffer tape.

As a statistician I do not believe in superstitions. They imply that there is some unknown force that follows you around and changes your fate based upon whether you break a mirror or step on a crack.

As a huge baseball fan, I have turned my cap around or inside out to influence run-scoring rallies by my team ... even when sitting in my living room where no one in the world will see my cap.

Yup, baseball has it's share of wacky superstitions.

When I played in high school, I learned to put on the left baseball shoe first then the right shoe. It carried over to socks, as well. I still do it by habit with all footwear, although it's no longer a superstition.

http://cappersclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/rallymonkey.jpg

I read about an Italian road racer who thinks it is bad luck to take a shower while racing, as in the 3 week Giro. Now that is superstitious. Repalcing a broken part now that is just common sense.

Always step on the bag at third when taking the field.